ursions outside the confines of the camps.Working inside the camp was an option but many people refused because of the incredibly low wages. Many adults chose to pursue hobbies that they hadnt had the time for before their confinement. A popular pastime was gardening, and some of the men who had been professional gardeners built a small park, with mossy nooks, ponds, waterfalls and curved wooden bridges (99). Others, including Papa Wakatsuki painted and erected art. When the internees slowly began to be allowed outside of the camp, many walked along rivers and through fields and explored the territory surrounding the camp. Many adults resorted to more self-destructive activities in order to cope with their situations. Jeannes father flirted with alcoholism during and even after their confinement. Men were torn and distraught since they no longer controlled their lives or supported their families. Papa refused to take one of the meager jobs, and chose to putter. This caused problems and heated arguments were regular in the Wakatsuki part of the barracks. Many times Papa would threaten to kill his wife during a drunken rage. He kept pursuing oblivion through drink, he kept abusing Mama, and there seemed to be no way out of it for anyone. You couldnt even run (71). Even after they were released from the prison-like camps he refused to work. His fishing boats were gone and he could only get embarrassingly low wage jobs. Instead, his wife worked while he worked on a housing project that would miserably fail in the next few months. For three and a half years, the Wakatsuki family and many others were confined in harsh camps with little to do. Like many non-violent prisoners feel before they are released, the Wakatsukis did not even want to leave the camp. They knew how hard it would be to enter back into society, to start over, and they seemed to just want to keep things the way they were. They had no idea what to expect. ...
